Relay Pump Operations: Who Says It's Just for the Long Lay?

Featured Author:

Paul Shapiro

Paul Shapiro specializes in the research, development and training of large flow water delivery systems and fire stream management. His extensive research and outcomes of large diameter hose has been published frequently in fire service trade magazines. Paul has made significant contribution to fire response efficiency with his application-based research of large caliber fire streams working with handline and master stream operations.
Paul has been involved with the fire service since 1981, and is serving Las Vegas as an Engineer with the City of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. In March of 2007 his department gave him the Engineer of the Year award for 2006. He is a certified Fire Instructor III for the State of Nevada, has served on the faculty of many Fire Academies throughout the United States, and was named Instructor of the Year, 1999, by the Colorado Fire Academy. Paul is recognized nationally as an expert in his field, and is also the author of the popular book, Layin’ the Big Lines as well as the producer of the video, Large Flow Water Delivery.

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Flow test #5 was set up similar to test #4 in that it involved the use of the same type of hose, a very similar performance from the hydrant, and the comparison tests between the Akron and Humat HRVs. The only thing that was different was that the supply line was 500 feet long. Again, the numbers for the supply line lay from hydrant pressure followed the same path as they did in test #4. The evolution that did not use the HRV had a flow of 797 GPM. The Akron valve reduced the flow to 765 GPM while the Humat moved 775 GPM.

The relay flows were as follows with no valve 1440 GPM, with the Akron valve, 1090 GPM, and with the Humat valve 1128 GPM. The stopping point for the relay operations was a water issue. The pumper at the hydrant ran out of water. Adding a second and sometimes a third line from the hydrant to the source pumper can improve the flows. In this evolution it probably would not have help much but on strong hydrants it could make a big difference.